Source: Daily_Mail
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson hits back after John Henry phone-in
Under pressure: Liverpool manager Hodgson Roy Hodgson insists he does not fear for his job despite Liverpool's new owner branding results this season 'unacceptable'.The 63-year-old was clearly rattled as he dealt with questions about his future ahead of Wednesday's Europa League clash against Utrecht.But he insisted his assessment of the state Liverpool find themselves in is at one with owner John W Henry and new chairman Tom Werner.In a fans' phone-in on Monday night, Henry made it clear that things must improve but said there must be patience.And Hodgson is confident the situation will improve - as long as he is given time and the necessary investment. 'I don't have any fears, worries or concerns,' he said. 'But if you put it to me "You feel there is no chance whatsoever of you getting sacked" then I would be in a minority of one in that respect.'It happened to Chris Hughton, it happened to Sam Allardyce, Martin O'Neill resigned - we are all in that situation. Enlarge The work starts here: Torres (second left) and his team-mates need to find consistencyROY SET TO NAME STRONG XIRoy Hodgson is expected to name a relatively strong team to face Utrecht, despite having already qualified as Group K winners.Goalkeeper Pepe Reina will start while forwards Fernando Torres and Dirk Kuyt and defender Glen Johnson are all likely to feature.Captain Steven Gerrard has still not recovered from a hamstring injury sustained on England duty last month and remains a doubt for Saturday's Barclays Premier League visit of Fulham.Striker David Ngog is unlikely to be risked after sustaining a cut to his face in the defeat to Newcastle while left back Paul Konchesky rests a minor knock.Provisional squad: Reina, Kelly, Kyrgiakos, Wilson, Aurelio, Shelvey, Poulsen, Cole, Jovanovic, Pacheco, Babel, Jones, Johnson, Skrtel, Kuyt, Torres, Eccleston, Robinson, Flanagan.'But as someone who prides himself as a professional, who knows his job and is comfortable with doing his job, then you would excuse me for not going down the route you want me to go down in terms of "Who can we get rid of next?".'Because basically speaking unless there is a major inflow of cash into the club and the team is going to be changed from one moment to the next then whoever takes my place will be doing a similar job with similar players.'The owners have made it perfectly clear they are in it for the long term and they are going to be patient. They realise it is going to take time.'They realise we can't turn things around overnight and they also realise that the team I am working with is not the team I put together.'You don't turn things around overnight and they are aware of the magnitude of the task but they are very focused on what needs to be done and I am convinced they will help me get it done.'Hodgson, speaking ahead of Wednesday's final Europa League Group K clash at home to Utrecht, was quizzed at length about his position at the club. Man in the middle: Hodgson takes training at Melwood ahead of Europa League actionHe became increasingly frustrated at the line of questioning, although he accepted it was something he had become used to during his short time at the club.'Once again I come here to do a European press conference, playing Utrecht when we are top of the table, and I find myself answering questions about owners and whether I am safe. It is a sad situation,' he added.'I came here to do a European press conference, which I am forced to do for UEFA, when really and truly I am doing a phone-in with you.'That is the nature of the game, it seems to be the major preoccupation of the mass media because they want to see change.'It doesn't bother me because I can't domore than I am doing, I can't work harder, I can't work better. I have great confidence in my ability, I don't think there is any reason not tohave. The 'near-miss' pose: (from left) Joe Cole, Dirk Kuyt, Jonjo Shelvey and Danny Wilson in training'I know the players are working as hard as they can to win matches for Liverpool and therefore me as manager.'But if you have situations like last night when you have phone-ins to the owners you don't have to be a rocket scientist to know how that is going to go because we are not top of the league.'Had we been top of the league it might have been different but we are not, we are ninth and we are Liverpool Football Club.'You don't have to be Albert Einstein to work out more people will be unhappy with that than are happy with it.' Liverpool chief tells Hodgson: We want improvement but won't panic!Gerrard's on track for Fulham clash, reveals Liverpool boss HodgsonJekyll and Hyde Liverpool frustrate Hodgson after Newcastle setbackLIVERPOOL FC